Stan Grant has officially quit as host of the ABC’s Q+A, two months after citing vile racial abuse in his decision to take an indefinite break.

Grant’s permanent departure was confirmed on Monday by ABC news director Justin Stevens, who said the network respected and supported his decision.

“Stan Grant is one of the country’s finest journalists, storytellers and broadcasters and we will be delighted to have his contribution across a number of different ABC programs,” Stevens said.

“We want to do all we can to support Stan and ensure he continues to play a major role in Australian media. He has the ability to lead our media toward a kinder and more constructive conversation.”

Grant will be replaced at the helm of the broadcaster’s audience-driven show by Patricia Karvelas, at least for the rest of 2023. Karvelas, who will continue to present RN Breakfast from Tuesday to Friday, has been filling in during Grant’s absence.

“Patricia Karvelas has been doing an outstanding job as fill-in host and we’re delighted she has agreed to continue in that role,” Stevens said.

Monday’s announcement follows Grant’s bombshell in May, when he said he was “walking away” from Q+A due to escalating racial abuse.

“On social media my family and I are regularly racially mocked or abused. This is not new. Barely a week goes by when I am not racially targeted. My wife is targeted with abuse for being married to a Wiradjuri man,” he wrote in a column announcing his decision.

“I don’t even read it, yet I can’t escape it. People stop me in the street to tell me how vile it is. They tell me how sorry they are. Although I try to shield myself from it, the fact it is out there poisons the air I breathe.”

A “dispirited” Grant also took aim at ABC management for failing to do enough to support him.

“Not one ABC executive has publicly refuted the lies written or spoken about me. I don’t hold any individual responsible; this is an institutional failure,” he said.

ABC staff walked off the job to support Grant, and his statement drew a formal apology from managing director David Anderson.

On Monday, Stevens said the ABC’s Voice Correspondent and The Drum presenter Dan Bourchier would host a special edition of Q+A from the Garma Festival from August 4, presenting a range of views from the all-Indigenous panel.

“Dan is doing terrific work in a key role covering the Voice to Parliament debate and referendum and having him anchor the program from Garma will be another important part of this,” Stevens said.

Grant has made no public comment on Monday’s announcement.